An Ashland Man with a Message

By David Riley/Daily News staff

Ashland -- Hugh McIntyre was becoming a one-man marketing machine as early as age 13, starting to establish himself as a promoter by booking concerts for local bands under his own brand: "Something Used.""You just network," he said matter-of-factly. "I kind of helped one band and someone would ask them for help, and they would say, 'Contact Hugh.' "Newly graduated from Ashland High School, McIntyre, 18, has now started a line of eco-friendly T-shirts under the same banner. Each one promotes anything from ending violence in Sudan to gay rights to alternative fuels."Each T-shirt has its own cause," he said Tuesday.Purchases go toward those causes - 10 percent of the price for each T-shirt is donated to organizations such as Amnesty International or the Human Rights Campaign, McIntyre said. To make up for any pollution caused by producing the shirts, he said he also has paid to offset five tons of carbon emissions."I don't think five tons of carbon was produced in making the line, but just in case," he said.One T-shirt reads, "I am the revolution." McIntyre said it was inspired by friends who told him they were impressed by what he's accomplished, but he says they could do the same with some work."The idea is people can be the change they want to see," McIntyre said. "It's not that hard. It's little things here and there."McIntyre, who plans to study marketing at Lasell College in Newton next fall, said he saved and planned the T-shirt line for the past year."If I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right," he said. "I'm not just going to throw something together in a week."That organizational streak is partly what led McIntyre to try organizing concerts, rather than playing in a band or just being a fan. Having no musical talent was a factor, too, he said.Despite his age, McIntyre said his promotional efforts grew. He said he branched out from venues like the Middle East in Cambridge and Harper's Ferry in Allston to set up shows for bands in other cities.Often, a portion of proceeds from those concerts went to organizations like Toys for Tots or food pantries, McIntyre said."I love setting things up and organizing," he said. "I love helping people out. I love going to a concert and seeing all the people there and how much money was raised ... and saying, 'I created this. It's a great feeling."'

Before launching his T-shirt line two weeks ago, McIntyre said he spent time promoting it online. He has also toured Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D.C., and other cities, often setting up at Gay Pride events to introduce potential customers to Something Used.

Touring has been fun, but he's been traveling cheap, often by bus.

"We don't eat at restaurants," he said. "You stop at convenience stores and McDonald's. You sleep in the car in New Jersey."

Something Used has five different T-shirt designs available now, McIntyre said. Four to six more will come out next winter, he said, and he has made a point of selling them for $12 each.

"You can sell cheap shirts and still help," he said. "I'm trying to keep it cheap so people who want it can get it."

Anyone interested in the T-shirts can check out Something Used online at www.myspace.com/somethingused.